Secretary Mullin Meets with Local Law Enforcement Officials, DHS Personnel in Ohio Visit

WASHINGTON - On Friday, United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin kicked off Labor Day Weekend in Ohio by meeting with local law enforcement officials and DHS personnel on the front lines of making America safe again.

In the morning, Secretary Mullin held a law enforcement roundtable to facilitate discussions among U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) leaders and representatives from the Warren County Sheriff's Office on the importance of federal, state, and local law enforcement cooperation through 287(g) agreements which make our communities safer. Secretary Mullin also highlighted record low crime rates under the Trump administration, and record high arrests by ICE in August 2026. In August, ICE arrested 50,925 illegal aliens across the country. This surpasses the previous record held by July 2026, which saw 50,208 illegal aliens arrested, and marks the second consecutive month with over 50,000 illegal alien arrests.

Participants in the roundtable included ICE Detroit Field Office Director Matthew Putra, ICE Detroit Acting Deputy Field Office Director Ronald Whalen, ICE Columbus Acting Assistant Field Office Director Luke Affholter, ICE Cincinnati Acting Assistant Field Office Director Christopher Norris, Warren County Sheriff Barry Riley, Captain of Warren County Jail Division Brian Payne, and Representative Warren Davidson of Ohio's 8th Congressional District.

"On Friday, I had the privilege of meeting with the men and women of the Warren County Sheriff's Office and saw firsthand how their officers are working with ICE to make America safe again," said Secretary Mullin. "In August, ICE arrested nearly 51,000 illegal aliens. This success could not have happened without the officers of the Warren County Sherrif's Office, and the thousands of law enforcement partners like them."

Secretary Mullin also visited U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Sandusky Bay Station in Port Clinton, Ohio, where he met with Detroit Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Javier Geronimo, Jr., Sandusky Bay Station Acting Patrol Agent in Charge Ben Panek, Toledo-Sandusky Port Director Steven Baca, and Marine Interdiction Agent Daniel Sheehan, prior to taking a facility tour that included a CBP X-ray demonstration and a Border Patrol K9 demonstration.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to meet with some of the agents responsible for keeping our communities safe and enforcing lawful commerce," said Secretary Mullin. "CBP Toledo-Sandusky Port's personnel are especially critical because they are responsible for some of the most traversed areas on Lake Erie, Interstates 80 and 90, and the surrounding communities."

In his last stop, Secretary Mullin visited U.S. Coast Guard Station Marblehead in Marblehead, Ohio, where he met with Capt. Caren Damon, Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Sector Detroit; Chief Warrant Officer Steven White, Commanding Officer of Station Marblehead; and Chief Petty Officer Michael Reggio, the station's Executive Petty Officer before participating in a CBP Air and Marine Operations Boat Pursuit Demonstration.

"Visiting Coast Guard Sector Detroit and witnessing the Air and Marine Operations Boat Pursuit Demonstrations was a fantastic way to end my visit," said Secretary Mullin. "I am confident that whether in our communities, our waterways and maritime approaches, or in the air, our border is secure, and the American people are safe because of the men and women I met with on Friday."

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